video killed the radio star, headphones killed the HIFI

[bjsa06]

It's really just crept up on me, years ago I loved the booming hifi you could hear down the street.....now, we have the private 'cone of silence' we put ourselves into as we go about our business.

GUILTY: I've got 3 great sets of headphones, 5 mp3 players etc etc..use the stuff all the time

HiFI stores are full of computers/TV's and gadgets - no HiFI's!

I got my old records out the other day and put on 'Man of Mystery' by the Shadows. My boys love dropping the needle down, waiting for the cyclic dust click...and...well, you know the rest.

The way we buy and listen to music is changing, but let's keep that boom coming down the street.

[hemingway]

I still have my living-room separates system - there's nothing like it - but just as disturbing is the way people use headphones. Listening on poor-quality devices like phones, with cheap headphones. Nothing's gonna sound good like that.

I'm old fashioned in that regard, too (although is anyone with an MP3 really old fashioned?). A decent MP3 (Creative Zen) that prioritises sound quality over bells and whistles, and some Sennheisers. Actually sounds remotely like music.

[bjsa06]

anyone else want to relay some stories of old HIFI days?

[Steddie]

I think part of the reason is that people are terrified of offending each other, or being seen as uncouth for listening to their music 'too loud'. When I used to catch the train during high school, I was always really conscious of the volume of my music. These days, I don't care so much. If someone is offended by me blasting Clapton from my Volvo, they need help

Its just one of those funny social things, like facing towards the door in an elevator. Next time you get in one, face towards the back, look everyone in the eye and smile. Its great fun. I think in the same way we are socialised to be quiet in elevators, we are becoming steadily socialised to see music as a private thing.

Then again, I'm usually wrong

[w3stie]

[bunny 7]

Yes, I miss those days of nice hi-fi, was nice watchin the record go round or the reels of the tape machine.
Maybe I can find one of these sometime that I can afford.

http://www.clairtone.ca/projectg/

[gitold]

Setting up my new Grado cartridge back in the day was always a big thrill. I had the Zero stat gun and the record brush. CDs just never had the mystique of a record but I havent had a turntable in years. I've never owned an mp3 player and probably never will. Since I live by myself I listen to my CD's through my 2000 watt pa system.

[TeleTim911]

It's just the times. I remember those days, people would open doors and windows, put some speakers in the windows and play music and be grilling in the back yard, having a good time. No one said anything, in fact the neighbors would come over with a six pack and join them. We have done that many times. Don't know them? What better way to introduce yourself and get to know each other. I often had parties at my house and always told the neighbors, and many times they would join us.

Today, most people don't know anything about their neighbors...and usually complain the first time they start a mower too early or play a loud stereo.

How much we've changed as a society huh? Think it's for the better?